Chapter 26.3

Clop clop clop.

The sound of hooves echoes in the gray-blue landscape.

I was riding in a carriage with Lance on the road to the foot of the mountain.

“Wow…why are we going without a coachman?”

“It seems that there’s a system for specifying the destination based on the map.”

This carriage was also brought by Royford.

He intended to sell it to some nobleman, but it seems like the nobleman went bankrupt and he couldn’t sell it.

I liked the design that wasn’t too luxurious, it was more practical, and I thought that I could use it without waiting for a regular one like I did when I went to the royal capital, so I bought it.

It’s quite big, but…

That guy can’t be thinking that I’m a convenient trash can that buys anything from him, does he?

However, I can’t say anything because the goods he brings are of high quality and suitable for my needs.

As my body sank into the fluffy cushion, I asked Lance.

“About the water, it isn’t a problem in the village?”

“…That’s…”

Lance sighed and he looked out the window as if he was sulking.

“You do know we go to that base to sell crops, right. Saying the water is of poor quality, it’s like saying the quality of the crops we produce is bad. We can’t talk about that over there.”

“…Ah, sorry…”

I regret not thinking about such things.

However, I just want to know what the water is like there…

Certainly, if such a story is told in the cafeteria, the uncle in the kitchen would feel convicted.

Rumors of the water may be a nuisance to those who make a living by selling what is reared in the village.

“…But it’s exactly as you said. The water has been weird recently. Especially the water flowing down the hilltop from the opposite side, it’s dirty…I feel like it’s affecting our crops.”

“Is that so, I knew it…Is it not dangerous?”

“We have many water sources, so we get drinking water from other places. But we can’t choose the water that flows through the soil…”

The water is bad enough for the people in the village to be aware of it.

Is there no danger to the produced crops?

If anything happens to the knights, they won’t overlook it.

“Why didn’t you request the royal capital to investigate it?”

“Such a thing…! If the country knew, they would not buy the crops around here. How can we live?”

He replied, making me speechless.

Indeed, if the water quality survey team comes, harmful rumors will be inevitable regardless of the result.

The damage would be enormous in a place where people live by selling crops to the surrounding area, such as a village at the foothills.

“It’s okay if I examine it on my own, right?”

“Well…I think we’d all be happy if you could do something about it.”

Lance looked at me with expectation.

In those eyes, I could see the people in the village might be confused by this situation as well.

I want to do something for them somehow…

Thinking so, at that moment, a great vibration hit the carriage.

“Wahh…!”

Lance’s body was unsteady from the shock and fell over to my side.

I slipped from the chair too and we both fell down.

“Ouch, ouch…”

What the hell happened?

I have to go out and check…

When I turned to look at Lance, who was on top of me, he was staring at my chest.

“Lance? What…”

Beyond that line of sight, the button on my shirt held by Lance popped off, exposing one nipple.

W-well that’s fine, but there’s a kiss mark that Caesar put next to it…!

When I told him I didn’t want any marks, he persistently sucked on me and threatened me, “Are you planning on showing it to someone?”

Remembering what happened, I strangely blushed.

As I hurriedly pulled my shirt together, Lance moved away from me while being suspicious of me.

“Ah, s-sorry!”

“No, that’s, it’s fine.”

I’m a guy after all!

It’s strangely embarrassing to see Lance, whose eyes were darting around, with a flushed red face.

“I have to take a look at what happened…”

When I managed to open the carriage door, a big tree was on the roof.

It seems that an old tree fell and hit the carriage.

“Uwah…”

I involuntarily grunted at the dented roof.

I’m glad that the carriage was strong. If the carriage was poor quality, it would have broken and the tree would’ve hit us.

Perhaps the horses were surprised by the sudden event, they were rampaging as if they were scared.

Even so, it’s a lot of damage.

I won’t be able to continue using this carriage as it is.

The horses seem to be safe, but I’m not confident that I can ride well…

I was at a loss, but I decided to release the horses and return to the base.

The carriage itself may have to be discarded…

I’m worried about walking for hours on my way home…

According to Lance, the village is close.

I don’t think I have to walk for too long though…I’m saved, is what I thought.